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Russia’s dog-loving leader gets another puppy as gift

(Associated Press) | Updated October 12, 2017 - 12:14am

Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, right, smiles as he presents a puppy to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. The presidents met on the sidelines of a summit of leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Sochi. Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW — Another summit, another dog.

For the third time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been given a puppy as a gift. This one is a Central Asian Shepherd bestowed by the president of Turkmenistan on Wednesday.

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov presented Putin with the puppy as a birthday gift. Putin, an avid dog lover, turned 65 over the weekend.

Putin cuddled Verny, which is Russian for “loyal,” and kissed the pup on the head during a meeting in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Putin previously received a Bulgarian shepherd named Buffy from Bulgaria’s premier and an Akita named Yume from a Japanese official.